Cape Cod Whale Watching

Whales You Are Likely To See On A Cape Cod Whale Watch

Humpback Whale

Finback Whale

Minke Whale

Illustrations courtesy Uko Gorter, copyright© 2003, 2006 all rights reserved.

Where The Whales Congregate

All of the Cape Cod whale watching cruises take you to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, the whales' favorite spring and summer feeding grounds. The bank starts about six miles north of Provincetown on Cape Cod, and reaches 19 miles north to Cape Ann, Massachusetts, very near Gloucester. The water in Stellwagen Bank is shallow, causing the plankton to rise close to the surface – making it easy for the whales to feed. Seeing whales here is such a sure thing that most cruises guarantee a sighting.

History of the Cape Cod Whales

While on your Cape Cod whale watching cruise, you will also likely learn a little bit about the important part whales played in the history of Cape Cod. Shortly after the Pilgrims arrived in the 1600’s and for centuries afterwards, whales were plentiful in the waters surrounding the Cape.

Unfortunately for the whale population, it became very profitable to hunt whales. Whale oil was used to make soap, lamp oil, machinery oil, candles, and even crayons. Whale bones were carved into fishing poles, corset stays and crochet hooks. A substance found only in the sperm whale was used to make fine perfumes.

Because of this profit-making potential, Cape Cod hosted major fleets of whale hunting boats. The economy boomed and many species of whales were hunted close to extinction. They are protected now – and Cape Cod whale watching cruises are a fantastic opportunity to take a closer look.

What to Expect on a Cape Cod Whale Watching Cruise

During your cruise, each boat will have naturalists on board to help you spot and identify these beautiful whales and other sea life. Hopefully, you will get the chance to see a whale or several whales breach (leap up out of the water), sound (dive to feed, popping their tails out of the water as they go) and spyhop (hold their heads out of the water) on your trip. The whales will sometimes even slap the water with their gigantic flippers – flippers that can reach 15 feet long. The feeling you get when you first spot a whale from the whale watching boat is indescribable!

The naturalists may also teach you how to watch the water patterns to predict when a whale is nearby. Schools of sand lance, tiny fish that whales like to chase, beneath the surface will form a v-like pattern when trying to escape a feeding whale. When you see this “v” of sand lance, there is generally a whale below looking for a meal. Another way to find the whales is to look for the sea birds hovering over the water, waiting for fish to be chased near the surface.

The most common whale to see on a Cape Cod whale watching cruise is the humpback. The naturalists research, photograph and track each humpback – seeing the same whales and their calves year after year. The whales are generally identified and named for the unique markings on the underside of their tail or fluke.

Humpback whales aren’t the only whales to see on the Stellwagen Bank though. Often, whale watchers will spot huge finback whales and smaller, quicker minke whales too. Less often, sei whales, pilot whales, dolphins and porpoises make appearances on a cruise. Some boats even have underwater microphones to try to hear the subsurface sounds of the whales.

Sea birds, sunfish, basking sharks, blue sharks and blue fin tuna are also often highlights of a Stellwagen Bank cruise. And every once in a while some seals will peek out of the water as well.

Each Cape Cod whale watching boat has snack bars, restrooms and gift shops on board. Cruises last for about 3 or 4 hours. Adult tickets cost approximately $40; prices are lower for children. Be sure to check the internet and local guide magazines for coupons too!

What To Bring

As big and comfortable as the Cape Cod whale watching boats may be, don’t forget that this is a three to four hour trip in open waters. The wind can get chilly – so don’t forget a jacket or sweatshirt. Equally important, some sunblock and sunglasses or a hat will keep you from regretting your trip the next day! Wear rubber-soled shoes or sneakers for good traction on deck. Bring a pair of binoculars for closer views of whales and other wildlife. And don’t forget your camera!

John and Maria